A woman has filed a lawsuit against a popular restaurant chain after suffering severe injuries from slipping on a foreign substance inside one of its locations. Dawn Annette Puccio lodged the complaint against International House of Pancakes, LLC (IHOP) in the Circuit Court of the 15th Judicial Circuit in Palm Beach County, Florida, on September 5, 2024.

According to the complaint, Puccio was an invitee at the IHOP restaurant located at 4745 W. Atlantic Avenue in Delray Beach, Florida, on March 1, 2024. While walking near the counter adjacent to the kitchen area, she slipped on a foreign substance and sustained severe injuries. The lawsuit alleges that IHOP had exclusive control over the premises and was responsible for maintaining it in a safe condition.

Puccio’s legal team argues that IHOP failed to uphold its duty of care by not properly maintaining common areas and ensuring they were free from hazards. The complaint details several specific breaches of duty by IHOP: failing to maintain common areas properly, allowing grease to remain on the floor creating hazardous conditions, failing to warn invitees of known or hidden dangers, and not keeping the premises adequately illuminated.